Notification of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation - Guidelines to regulate and control ground water extraction in India.
Country
Type of law
Regulation
Abstract
In pursuance of the directions of the National Green Tribunal and the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation issues new guidelines to regulate and control groundwater extraction. These aim at sustainable management of water resources in the country and seek to regulate groundwater extraction and to conserve the scarce groundwater resources in the country. The guidelines will apply to the whole of India. Ground water abstraction in States/UTs (which are not regulating ground water abstraction) shall continue to be regulated by Central Ground Water Authority.
All the State Ground Water Authorities/Organizations shall prepare Water management plans for all Over-exploited, Critical and Semi-critical assessment units starting with Over-exploited units. Water management plans shall be reviewed and updated periodically.
The Guideline regulate the application for and the grant of No Objection Certificates for ground water extraction. Such certificate is not requires for, among other things, abstraction for somestic use and for agriculture. State/UT Governments shall be responsible for registering drilling rigs operating within their jurisdiction and for maintaining the database of wells drilled by them. The Guidelines also impose ground water abstraction/restoration charges, prescribe general compliance conditions in a No Objection Certificate, regulate ground water level monitoring, require pay Environmental Compensation and penalties to be paid for illegal abstraction, and impose additional conditions for the abstraction and use of ground water. The Annexes to these Guidelines concern, among other things, measures to be adopted to ensure prevention from pollution in the plant premises of polluting industries/ projects
All the State Ground Water Authorities/Organizations shall prepare Water management plans for all Over-exploited, Critical and Semi-critical assessment units starting with Over-exploited units. Water management plans shall be reviewed and updated periodically.
The Guideline regulate the application for and the grant of No Objection Certificates for ground water extraction. Such certificate is not requires for, among other things, abstraction for somestic use and for agriculture. State/UT Governments shall be responsible for registering drilling rigs operating within their jurisdiction and for maintaining the database of wells drilled by them. The Guidelines also impose ground water abstraction/restoration charges, prescribe general compliance conditions in a No Objection Certificate, regulate ground water level monitoring, require pay Environmental Compensation and penalties to be paid for illegal abstraction, and impose additional conditions for the abstraction and use of ground water. The Annexes to these Guidelines concern, among other things, measures to be adopted to ensure prevention from pollution in the plant premises of polluting industries/ projects
Attached files
Date of text
Notes
If States/Union territories have come out with their own groundwater abstraction guidelines, which are inconsistent with these CGWA guidelines, the provisions of CGWA guidelines will prevail. However, in case the guidelines followed by such States/UTs contain some more stringent provisions than CGWA guidelines, such provisions may also be given effect to by the States/ UTs Authorities in addition to those contained in the CGWA guidelines. States may be at liberty to suggest additional conditions/ criteria based on the local hydro-geological situations which shall be reviewed by CGWA/Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India before acceptance.
Repealed
No
Source language
English
Legislation Amendment
No